Wallace Election.

Otautau Standard and Wallace County Chronicle, Volume I, Issue 30, 21 November 1905, Page 3

Wallace Election.

MB. D. MACPHERSON'S CANDITATURE

Mr Dugaia Macpherson, who is contesting the Wallace election, addressed a large and enthusiastic meeting at Aparima on Thurßdav night. Mr W. Taylor occupied the chair, and m a few brief remarks introduced the candidate to the audience. Mr Macpherson commenced by saying toat this was not tho first time he stood before them as-a candidate, having at one time contested axounty election. He had been a supporter of the present Government for years, and he supported them because he believed m their administration. He wsb a party man, and be did not think the elective executivfl workable. There may come a day. but only when the people become les* selfish. It any measure should come before the House which would not benefit the people, his vo.e should go against it. If avote of no confidence arose, he would sink his own indmduality for tbe time, and vote for the Government. He was a firm believer m the Arbitration Court, and said that if no such court existed, creat trouble would have ensued, such aa strikes, etc. He was m favour of 8 hours a day for Tailway men, and as regards surfacemen, he thought they were entitled to tne rise m wages they had received. In connection with prison.reform, he thought there was a 'mat deal of room for improvement, more especially m the case of young prisoners, many of whom oame out hardened criminals As regards the mining industry, he might say that more prospecting should be done, and more use made of the diamond drill. YMy* geven millions of gold had gone out of the colony. The country was full of minerals. More should be done m the direction of o nsolidating the acts, and simplifying them. They all knew what good measures had b°en done by the Government— the Lands for Settlements, Advances to Settlers, the Penny Post, Old Age Pensions, etc. He thought maternity homes were a step m the right direction, and be supported consumptive homes, and all that helped towards the good of the community. He did not agree with the views of Mr Massey aud the Opposition, They should go m for a policy and drop all abuse He objected to tbe Opposition style of criticism, and referred to the voucher jnc'dent and other business. At Balciathft Mr Massey made a statement which did not reflect any' credit on bim or his. party, and it was this ; - , They had, he said, feasted upon the sweets of prosperity, and he desired that they should taste of the bitters of advereitv that he believed to be impending, and to suffer the consequences of a seatter-da«h policy they had inaugurated at some priod." Any man uttering such words was not capable of being Premier of New Zealand. As regards the land laws, he might say that they compared favourably with any similar laws m the world. Not so very long apo a steamer bad left New Zealand with £100,000 worth o* butter, nearly all from leasehold farms, and we would yet be able to send away large quantities of other produce. He wae greatly m - javour of granting to/ leasehold? rs theMgbt to purchase tbeir farms, and when the time oame when there was no more land available m New Zaaland the freehold could be abolished. Mr Rolleston and Mr Ballance Had seen what the leasho'd wou-d do for this country, and Mr MoKeniie had carried out their plans. He (the speaker), did not^^eVieve m tbe 999 years' lease. He: thougM^y«rai»." quite long 'enough. The money gained from the sale of freeholds should go into "-jKffds. for .Settlement fund, not into county funds fbif tbsdg,- etc, for then it would all disappear. The Opposition would make the lnnd question the grounds for a want of noconfidcnce.asthey knew there were maDy freeholders on the Government side. As regards education, it waaone of the things we were getting the worth of our money for. Much of the trouble at the present tirr.e was that children went to'school j too young and left to*> youn?. He wae a firm believer m free, secular and compulsory education, bat he was strongly opposed to the Bible bfing introduced into our publio schools, as he thought it was not right to introduce religious teaching into such a m-xed eimmunity ac now existed, and he alsp opposed the referendum on ihe subject, as the question was a personal matter with all* If the bible m schools wasever introduced, then we would have a ;State church, and he would even vote against- the Government on this question. As regards the liquor question, he might say that they oould all. vote for it tbe same as himself. He believed m local option and would always support it. The public debt had gone up L21,000,C00 m ten years, but they must not forget that very much of that sum had been invested so as to be reproductive, and come was showing a profit.' The rate of interest per head of the population had actually decreased during the ten years. In 1895 it had been L 2 10s 3d, while m 1904 it waBL2 7s 6d, a decrease of 2s9<\ahead. This had come about by the excellent managemenfrof the Government m consolidating loans, etc. The colony conld now; stop borrowing, aB sufficient revenue was derived from the customs and other sources to carry the counlry on, but it would not be advisable to do so, as the prosecution of public works was a necessity. At the conclusion Mr Macpherson stated that if he was returned he intended to live m Southland, as a true representative must be among the people, and know their requirements. After a number of questions had been asked and satisfactorily answered, the candidate received a hearty vote of thanks and confidence, on the motion of Mr Taylor, jnr., seconded by Mr Hogan. Mr Macpherson suitably replied, and tbe usual vote of thanks to the chair, terminated the meeting.